Daily Times
(Leavenworth, KS)
April 24, 1861
Fort Washita, C. N.,}
March 31, 1861. }
Editor Times: Since my last, I have not had an opportunity to inform you of the doings here, until to-day.
Deputy Marshal Whiteside, and an escort of six U. S. troops from Fort Arbuckle, arrived here after an absence of six days, having in charge of Bill Hall, the murderer, and departed the following day with an escort of five men from this place for Van Buren, Arkansas. The troops from Arbuckle returned to that place. The escort from this place accompanied the Marshal to Johnson’s Station, on the California Overland Route, and then returned.
Two weeks ago the overland coaches made the trip from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Nail’s Bridge, C. N., a distance of one hundred and seventy miles in twenty hours.
First Lieut. Alfred Iverson, of the 1st Cavalry, and son of Ex-Senator Iverson, of Georgia, has tendered his resignation to the Presidenthaving received the appointment of 3d Captain in the Georgia army.
Dixon Ouchaubby, a Chickasaw Indian, convicted of murder, was executed at Tishomingo City, on the 20th inst. Levi Colbert, another Chickasaw, confined in the jail at Tishomingo city, awaits the same fate, for murdering an Indian on Blue river, sometime since. A few days since a Choctaw Indian was brought to this place and confined in the Guard House, being charged with murdering two white men, near Red river.—The prisoner acknowledges killing one man, but denies killing the second. There is, however, sufficient proof that he committed both crimes.
Grass is growing finely. It will soon be sufficiently large to afford good grazing.—Peach trees have been in blossom for nearly a month, but late heavy frosts have destroyed this fruit for this season. The trees of the forest are putting on their summer costume.
The first number of the National Register made its appearance on the 16th inst. In politics it is an uncompromising secession sheet, beneath the contempt of honorable men.
The object of the Choctaw and Chickasaw National Convention, which met at Boggy Depot, C. N. was the sectionalizing and individualizing of their country. Resolutions to that effect, after a discussion of several days, were adopted by a vote of fifteen yeas to eight nays, and are to be submitted to the people, on the 6th of August, 1861, for ratification or rejection.
The General Council of the Choctaw Nation, in general assembly, passed, among a number of resolutions, expressing their feelings and sentiments in reference to the political disagreement existing between the Northern and Southern States of the Union, the following resolution:
“Resolved, further, That in the event a permanent dissolution of the American Union takes place, our many relations with the General Government must cease, and we shall be left to follow the natural affections, the educations, institutions and interests of our property, which indissolubly bind us in every way to the destiny of our neighbors and brethren of the Southern States, upon whom we are confident we can rely for the preservation of our rights, of life, liberty and property, and the continuance of many acts of friendship, generous counsel and fraternal support.”
The garrison of this post was yesterday reinforced by the arrival of Company E., (Capt. Prince’s,) 1st Infantry, from Fort Arbuckle, which has been ordered to take post here.—Capt. Prince assumes the command of this fort.
The fort has not yet been taken by the Secessionists, as the Eastern papers have it. Some even go as far as to give an account of the surrender of the government property to the traitors by Capt. Carr. These and similar paragraphs going the rounds in the Eastern papers concerning this fort, are infamously false, and do great injustice to the brave and gallant commanding officer.
A few sympathizers with the Southern rabble, have deserted, taking with them horses, pistols, carbines, and everything they could lay hands upon; but as this was only following the example set by Floyd, Cobb and others, it will have no effect upon the morality of the community at large in the Rhett-led Confederacy.
Rover.